An uncommon H3/Ser10 phosphorylation pattern in Cestrum strigilatum (Solanaceae), a species with B chromosomes

Cestrum strigilatum (Solanaceae) is a South American shrub with B chromosomes. Bs show a univalent behavior when a single B is present, have non-Mendelian segregation, and are poor in genes and rich in repetitive DNA. In this study, the histone H3 at serine 10 (H3/Ser10) phosphorylation pattern was investigated during mitosis and meiosis of C. strigilatum collected from the wild and was compared in A and B chromosomes. The results revealed that H3/Ser10 phosphorylation of A chromosomes occurred only in the pericentromeric region in both mitosis and meiosis, whereas in the B univalent, phosphorylation appeared in almost the whole extent of the chromosome, except in the terminal portion of the long arm. In meiosis II, the phosphorylation of A chromosomes was similar to that in the first division of meiosis, but the Bs did not show H3/Ser10 phosphorylation. Our results suggest that phosphorylation at the pericentromeric region may be associated with chromosome motility during cell divisions and with the cohesion of B chromatids in a univalent structure in meiosis I.     

Cold activity of Beauveria and Metarhizium, and thermotolerance of Beauveria

Heat and cold are environmental abiotic factors that restrict the use of entomopathogenic fungi as agents for biological control of insects. The thermotolerance and cold activity of 60 entomopathogenic fungal isolates, including five species of Beauveria and one isolate of Engyodontium albus (=Beauveria alba) were examined as to tolerance of temperatures that might be encountered during field use. In addition, cold activity of eight Metarhizium spp. isolates was evaluated. The isolates were from various geographic regions, arthropod hosts or substrates. High variability in conidial thermotolerance was found among the Beauveria spp. isolates after exposure to 45 °C for 2 h, as evidenced by low (0-20%), medium (20-60%), or high germination (60-80%). The thermal death point (0% germination) for three rather thermotolerant B. bassiana isolates (CG 138, GHA and ARSEF 252) was 46 °C for 6 h. At low temperatures (5 °C), with few exceptions (e.g. CG 66, UFPE 479, CG 227, CG 02), most of the B. bassiana isolates germinated well (ca. 100%). On the other hand, only one isolate of Metarhizium sp. was cold-active (i.e. ARSEF 4343 from Macquarie Island, 54.4°S, Australia). This probably is a M. frigidum isolate. The E. albus isolate (UFPE 3138) was the most susceptible isolate to both heat and cold stress. Isolates ARSEF 252 and GHA of B. bassiana, on the other hand, presented exceptionally high thermotolerance and cold activity. Some isolates with high cold activity, however, were thermosensitive (e.g. ARSEF 1682) and others with high thermotolerance had low cold activity (e.g. CG 227). An attempt to correlate the latitude of origin with thermotolerance or cold activity indicated that B. bassiana isolates from higher latitudes were more cold-active than isolates from nearer the equator, but there was not a similar correlation for heat.     

Mycobacterium parascrofulaceum in acidic hot springs in Yellowstone National Park

Mycobacterium parascrofulaceum was found in Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, in a system composed of two acidic (pH 3.0) springs with temperatures between 56 degrees C at the source and 40 degrees C at the confluence of both springs. Growth and survival assays at 56 degrees C for 60 days were performed, confirming the origin of the strain.     

Optimization of arsenic phytoremediation using Eichhornia crassipes

This study aimed to evaluate the pH, phosphate, and nitrate in the process of arsenic absorption by Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth), using the surface response methodology, in order to optimize the process. The plants were exposed to a concentration of arsenic of 0.5 mg L^?1 (NaAsO₂) over a period of 10 days. The results indicated optimal levels for the absorption of arsenic by E. crassipes at pH equal to 7.5, absence of phosphate, and minimum nitrate level of 0.0887 mmol L^?1. For the tested concentration, E. crassipes was able to accumulate 498.4 mg kg^?1 of As (dry base) in its plant tissue and to reduce 83% of the initial concentration present in the aqueous medium where it was cultivated. The concentration of phosphorus in solution linearly increased the phosphorus content in the plants and negatively influenced the absorption of arsenic. The concentration of 0.5 mg L^?1 of As did not significantly affect the relative growth rate (RGR) and the tolerance index (TI). 94% of As (III) initially solubilized in water was converted by the end of the experiment period into As (V). The water hyacinth was important in the phytoremediation of arsenic when cultivated under optimal conditions for its removal.     

Long term oviposition preference and larval performance of Schizomyia macrocapillata (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) on larger shoots of its host plant Bauhinia brevipes (Fabaceae)

The Plant Vigor Hypothesis (PVH) proposes that natural selection on female oviposition choice results from higher fitness of larvae on more vigorous and larger plant modules. For six consecutive years we tested the PVH predictions by investigating the effect of shoot size of Bauhinia brevipes (Fabaceae) on the oviposition preference and offspring survival of the gall-midge Schizomyia macrocapillata (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Additionally, we analyzed the effects of bottom-up and top-down mortality forces on the system. The hypersensitive reaction (bottom-up effect) accounted for more than 90% larval mortality of S. macrocapillata, making available few galls to be found and killed by natural enemies (top-down effect). Smaller shoots were always more abundant while longer shoots were rare. Nevertheless, the percent number of galls induced by S. macrocapillata was up to 10-fold greater on the largest shoots, corroborating the preference prediction of the PVH. Schizomyia macrocapillata should use over-exploit larger shoots to maximize the preference for, and consequently increase the performance on these shoots. Our results partially support the performance prediction of the PVH: (1) the observed survival was higher than expected on longer shoots, and (2) the ratio of survival per shoot was positively related with shoot length only in 2 years. Thus, we found a link between female preference and larval performance on large-sized shoots, at least in some years. The gall-midge attack pattern in this study might be an evolved response to maximize the female preference and increased larval performance on longer shoots of the host plant.     

Expansion strategies for human mesenchymal stromal cells culture under xeno‐free conditions

Choosing the culture system and culture medium used to produce cells are key steps toward a safe, scalable, and cost‐effective expansion bioprocess for cell therapy purposes. The use of AB human serum (AB HS) as an alternative xeno‐free supplement for mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) cultivation has increasingly gained relevance due to safety and efficiency aspects. Here we have evaluated different scalable culture systems to produce a meaningful number of umbilical cord matrix‐derived MSC (UCM MSC) using AB HS for culture medium supplementation during expansion and cryopreservation to enable a xeno‐free bioprocess. UCM MSC were cultured in a scalable planar (compact 10‐layer flasks and roller bottles) and 3‐D microcarrier‐based culture systems (spinner flasks and stirred tank bioreactor). Ten layer flasks and roller bottles enabled the production of 2.6 ± 0.6 × 10⁴ and 1.4 ± 0.3 × 10⁴ cells/cm². UCM MSC‐based microcarrier expansion in the stirred conditions has enabled the production of higher cell densities (5.5–23.0 × 10⁴ cells/cm²) when compared to planar systems. Nevertheless, due to the moderate harvesting efficiency attained, (80% for spinner flasks and 46.6% for bioreactor) the total cell number recovered was lower than expected. Cells maintained the functional properties after expansion in all the culture systems evaluated. The cryopreservation of cells (using AB HS) was also successfully carried out. Establishing scalable xeno‐free expansion processes represents an important step toward a GMP compliant large‐scale production platform for MSC‐based clinical applications. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 33:1358–1367, 2017     

Somatic embryogenesis,organogenesis and callus growth kinetics of flax

The effects of plant growth regulators (PGR) on calli induction, morphogenesis and somatic embryogenesis of flax were studied. The organogenic and callus formation capacity were assessed for different types of source explants. Root and shoot explants were equally good material for calli production but the former produced calli without shoot regeneration capacity. Under the experimental conditions tested, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) + zeatin was the most efficient PGR combination on calli induction and biomass production. The calli were green but with no rhizogenic capacity. In contrast, and at similar concentrations, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) + kinetin induced white or pale green friable calli with a good root regeneration capacity (60%). A factorial experiment with different combinations of 2,4-D + zeatin + gibberellic acid (GA₃) levels revealed that the direction of explant differentiation was determined by specific PGR interactions and concentrations. The results from these experiments revealed that the morphogenetic pathway (shoot versus root differentiation) can be manipulated on flax explants by raising the 2,4-D level from 0.05 to 3.2 mg l^?1 in the induction medium. The induction and development of somatic embryos from flax explants was possible in a range of 2,4-D + zeatin concentrations surrounding 0.4 mg l^?1 2,4-D and 1.6 mg l^?1 zeatin, the most efficient growth regulator combination.     

Hypothermia causes a marked injury to rat proximal tubular cells that is aggravated by all currently used preservation solutions

Cold preservation results in cell death via iron-dependent formation of reactive oxygen species, leading to apoptosis during rewarming. We aimed to study cold-induced damage (i.e., injury as a consequence of hypothermia itself and not cold ischemia) in proximal tubular cells (PTC) in various preservation solutions presently applied and to clarify the role of mitochondria in this injury. Primary cultures of rat PTC were incubated at 4 degrees C for 24 h in culture medium, UW, Euro-Collins or HTK solution with and without the iron chelator desferal and rewarmed at 37 degrees C in culture medium. Cell damage, morphology, and apoptosis were studied and mitochondrial membrane potential was assessed by fluorescence microscopy. Cold incubation of PTC in culture medium followed by rewarming caused marked cell damage compared to warm incubation alone (LDH release 39+/-10% vs. 1.6+/-0.3%). Cold-induced damage was aggravated in all preservation solutions (LDH release 85+/-2% for UW; similar in Euro-Collins and HTK). After rewarming, cells showed features suggestive for apoptosis. Desferal prevented cell injury in all solutions (e.g., 8+/-2% for UW). Mitochondrial membrane potential was lost during rewarming and this loss could also be inhibited by desferal. Trifluoperazine, which is known to inhibit mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT), was able to prevent cold-induced injury (LDH 85+/-5% vs. 12+/-2%). We conclude that cold-induced injury occurs in PTC and is aggravated by UW, Euro-Collins, and HTK solution. Iron-dependent MPT is suggested to play a role in this damage. Strategies to prevent cold-induced injury should aim at reducing the availability of "free" iron.     

Potent inhibitors of farnesyltransferase and geranylgeranyltransferase-I

Compound 1 has been shown to be a dual prenylation inhibitor with FPTase (IC50=2 nM) and GGPTase-I (IC50=95 nM). Analogues of 1, which replaced the cyanophenyl group with various biaryls, led to the discovery of highly potent dual FPTase/GGPTase-I inhibitors. 4-trifluoromethylphenyl, trifluoropentynyl, and trifluoropentyl were identified as good p-cyano replacements.